Victim Advocate

Victim Advocate

Non-Exempt, Full-time, 32 hours per week with on-call requirement

Coordinator of Advocacy

$24.73 per hour

Poughkeepsie, NY

The Victim Advocate is a front-line advocate, first responder to a victim in need. This requires the ability to work quickly and concisely under extreme pressure. Victim Advocate provides casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing. The Victim Advocate is available to assist clients in crisis via 24-hour hotlines and walk-ins to the Center for Victim Safety and Support office.

• BA in Human Services field preferred and/or 3 to 5 years relevant work experience.
• Human Services, counseling, and/or advocacy experience.

• Complete intakes with victims seeking services as outlined by policy and procedure todetermineeligibility for services andidentifyvictim needs.
• Review consent and confidentiality with victims on a regular basis.
• Provide eligible and needed services to victimsincluding but not limited to crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy,accompaniment,information and referrals, and Office of Victim Services claims filing.
• Meet withvictims in person and over the phone to provide ongoing services, support, and needs assessments.
• Accompany victims of crime as needed while providing crisis counseling, information and referrals,assistance with crime victims compensation claims, criminal justiceadvocacyand personal advocacy.
• Establish andmaintainliaisons within the District Attorney’s Office, Law Enforcement, hospitals, attorneys, social services, and other community agencies and stakeholders.
• Accompanyvictimsto hospitals, police departments, Title IX hearings, court, and other community agencies or locations during regular and irregular hours which may be on short notice.
• Review all assigned Office of Victim Services claims regularly and ensure claims are effectively managed.
• Provide information and referrals to allvictimsin need by following the agency’s protocol.
• Evaluate and dispense emergency financialassistanceto victims as needed and approved by supervisors.
• Cover incoming calls on the 24-hour Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis/Crime Victims hotlines for a designated period during business hours and after hours through the on-call rotation.
• Provide community outreach through presentations and tabling events.
• Assist with fundraisers and special events(some of these may be outside agency hours of operation).
• Build and maintain effective and trusting relationships withprofessionalsin the Criminal Justice Systemincluding but not limited to officers, attorneys, Child Protective Services workers, etc.
• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned ona timely basis, including but not limited to documenting all activities, preparing weekly and monthly activity reports,maintaining up-to-date case records, and inputting into the client database.
• Maintain statistics, updated client records, and prepare reports as needed.
• Complete andmaintaintraining certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.
• Complete NYS Mandated Reporter training; report any behavior orimplication of behavior of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Ability to work effectively when under extreme pressure.
• Ability to work independently, but relay issues to manager, as appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully as part of a large teamand possess out of theboxthinking, resourcefulness, and strong advocacy skills..
• Ability to remain organized and complete administrative tasks, such as documenting activities and maintaining up-to-date records, in a timely manner.
• Possess empathy and…